Electric appliance switch with position indicator



Sept. 12, 1950 J. YOUHOUSE 2,522,423

ELECTRIC APPLIANCE SWITCH WITH POSITION INDICATOR Filed- Dec. 28, 1945 lNVENTOR ATTORNEYS Patented Sept. 12, 1950 ELECTRIC APPLIANCE SWITCH WITH POSITION IN DICATOR- Joseph Youhouse, Fairlield, Conn assignor to 02.500 Products Corporation, Bridgeport, Conn a corporation of Connecticut Application December 28, 1945, Serial No. 637,547

This invention relates to electric switches for use with heating pads and like devices.

An object of the present invention is to provide an illuminated electric switch for a heating pad, the switch being so arranged that the illumination therefrom is of exceedingly small intensity so that it is insuiiicient to interfere with sleep of a person using the pad, yet the total amount of light emitted by the switch makes it clearly visible in the dark at a distance within reach of the user.

I am aware that electric switches have been illuminated prior to my present invention, and that switches for electric heating pads have been provided with illumination. However, the prior heating-pad switches which were illuminated had drawbacks which in certain circumstances overbalanced the advantages of the illumination.

For instance, in one type of illuminated heatingpad switch, means were provided for causing a small portion of a graduated dial to glow so that the graduations and marks thereon might be read at fairly close range by a person having normal vision. However, where a person had vision below par, such reading was difficult and required eyeglasses, which often necessitated the users shifting around to reach for the glasses. Also, the small total amount of illumination emanating from the switch, while insuificient to interfere with sleep Was also inadequate to enable the patient to readily and quickly locate the switch in the dark.

In another type of illuminated heating-pad switch translucent marks were provided on the switch casing or on the knob of the switch, which marks became luminous and were for the purpose of enabling a user to read the setting of the switch. This type of switch was also not entirely satisfactory where a user's vision was impaired, and again the total illumination coming from the switch, while insufficient to interfere with sleep was inadequate to enable the patient to readily locate the switch in the dark when it was desired to change the setting thereof.

According to my present invention I obviate these disadvantages by the provision of a switch having a comparatively large exterior area which is illuminated and becomes luminous, the said area emitting light of small intensity so as to not interfere with the sleep of a user, and yet the total amount of light emanating from the switch, as a result of the comparatively large luminous area exposed, being sufficient to readily indicate the location of the switch in the dark. Thus, a

4 Claims. (-01. 200-167) user having poor vision is quickly ableto locate Q5 the switch in the dark at any time. I also provide in conjunction with the large luminous area, a switch-actuating member which is outlined and defined by the said area so that a user may easily locate and grasp the member for changing the switch setting, and movable member and switch casing are provided with means enabling a user by the sense of touch to determine what the particular setting of the switch is, thus obviating the necessity of the user employing vision for this purpose. Thus, I have obviated the disadvantages of prior illuminated heating-pad switches.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated herein the switch casing is provided with a relatively large opening which is covered by a translucent plastic member in the form of a knob con-- nected to actuate the switch mechanism, the said; member communicating with the interior of the casing and being accessible from the exterior of the latter for manipulation. Within the casing there is provided illuminating means in the form of a gaseous discharge tube, the said means emit ting light which strikes the interior surface of the knob and causes the entire exterior area of the latter to become luminous and to emit a soft light, viz. light of low intensity. This light is of such a character as to not interfere with sleep. However, since the area of the knob is comparatively large, the total amount of light emanating therefrom will enable the switch to be readily located in the dark when within reaching distance to a user.

Other features and advantages will hereinafter appear.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a face or plan view of a heating-pad switch made in accordance with my invention.

Fig. 2 is a view of the interior of the switch, showing the switch parts mounted on the lower half of the switch casing, and

Fig. 3 is a section taken on the line 33 of Fig. l.

The improved heating pad switch of this invention comprises a casing I0 consisting of two halves I I and I2, the casing being generally elongate and having openings at its ends for admission of supply wires l3 and control wires [4 leading respectively to a source of current and to a heating pad (not shown) The upper half II ofthe casing is provided with a plurality of nibs or protuberances l5, grouped and arranged so that one nib indicates the low setting of the switch, two nibs indicates the medium setting, and three nibs indicates the high setting of the switch. In between the single nibs and groups of three nibs, the surface of the casing ll is blank, indicating the off position of the switch. The various locations of the groups of nibs I5, and the setting of markings of the switch are clearly illustrated in Fig. l. i Y

The casing is is provided with a switch mechanism it actuated by a rotatable shaft H which latter is preferably of hexagonal cross-section, the said shaft carrying at one end a knob l8 having a projecting dianietric rib IQ for engagement by the fingers to actuate the knob, and therefore to actuate the switch mechanism [8. The rib [9 has pointed ends and 2| which may extend adjacent any of the groups of nibs 15 to indicate the setting of knob, and therefore the connections of the switch and the heating pad.

According to the present invention I provide on the casing Iii a translucent member 22 having a comparatively large area, the said member being illuminated from within the casing so as to provide a light of soft character, viz. of small intensity, but covering a large enough area so that the total light emitted by the member makes the switch easily visible in the dark even to persons having impaired vision. While the total amount of light emitted by the member 22 enables the switch to be readily located, the intensity of the light or concentration thereof is extremely small So that no discomfiture is felt by a user, nor is there interference with sleep.

As shown in the embodiment of the invention illustrated herein, I prefer to form the member 2?. in the shape of a disk which is integral with the rib SS and comprises a part of the knob I8. Referring to Fig. 3, the disk 22 is shown to be comparatively thin, and to have a depending peripheral flange 23 for engagement with a cylindrical wall 24 of the opening in the casing. The disk 22 is integral with a hub 25 which is slipped over the end of the switch shaft 11 and is keyed to the latter by virtue of the hexagonal shape of the shaft. A. compression spring 28 is mounted within the hub 25 so as to engage and press against the end of the shaft ll, thereby to continually yieldably urge the knob i8 outwardly of the easing iii. To provide for permanent positioning of the knob i8 within the casing, the depending flange of the disk 22 has a flat peripheral flange 2! engaging a shoulder or counterbore 28 in the upper casing half 1 I.

In accordance with my invention I provide illumination means in the casing Ii arranged. to cause the translucent disk 22 to emit a soft glow. This means comprises a gaseous discharge tube 29 which may be of the neon type, the said tube being connected with the supply wires [3 and switching mechanism is in such a manner that light is given 01f and illuminates the entire interior of the casing when the switch is in either of its operative positions of low, medium or high. The halves l l and i2 of the casing are preferably of opaque material such as Bakelite plastic, and the light within the casing in striking the interior of the disk 2'2 passes through the said disk and causes the latter to be visible from the exterior of the switch, and to emit a glow which is given on" over the entire exposed area of the disk 22, the said area being considerably larger than the sight openings heretofore employed in prior switches, and larger than the translucent indicia of prior switches, and having a size such that the glow therefrom while of small intensity or 4 concentration, is easily discernible in the dark to a person within reach of the switch.

It will thus be seen that by the present invention I have provided an extremely practical heating-pad switch arranged with especial reference to aged or infirmed persons or other persons having impaired vision. Myswitch may be adjusted to its various settings by using the sense of touch, and may be easily and quickly located in the dark visually while at the same time not employing strong light which might interfere with the sleep of a user.

Variations and modifications may be made within the scope of this invention and portions of the improvements may be used without others.

I claim:

l.- An electric heating-pad switch for connection in the supply line of the pad to control the energization of the latter, comprising a casing having a distinct touch-perceptible configuration such that one part can be distinguished from another, and an opening therein; switching means in the casing; a manually operable knob rotatably carried by the casing for actuating the said switching means, said knob comprising a disk of light-transmitting material spanning the opening in the casing, and comprising a diametric rib rigid with and projecting outwardly from the disk to be gripped by the fingers of a user for rotating the knob and coordinating the position of the same with portions of the casing; and illumination means within the casing for directing light against the underside of the disk so that the latter becomes luminous and outlines the said rib, thereby to guide a user in grasping the rib in the dark.

2. An electric heating-pad switch for connection in the supply line of the pad to control the energization of the latter, comprising a casing; a translucent wall associated with the casing, extending through to the casing interior and cocupying a substantial portion of the casing area; means within the casing for causing said wall to become luminous and emit light at a low intensity, having a value insufficient to interfere with sleep; switching means in the casing; a manually operable member movably carried by the casing for actuating the said switching means and so configured as to give a positive tactile indication of direction to inform the operator of the switch position, said member being located at the ex terior surface of the said translucent wall, and having its full range of movement overlying the same whereby said member is outlined against said luminous wall inall of its operative positions, and the said wall having sufficient exposed area so that the total output of light therefrom enables it to be easily visible in the dark from distances within reach of a user, thereby to guide the user in reaching for said member; and means carried by the casing for giving a tactile indication of switch setting positions and cooperating with said member for determining the setting of the switch by the sense of touch.

3. An electric heating pad switch for connection in the supply line of the pad to control energization of the latter, comprising an opaque casing; switching means mounted in the casing and including a rotatable operating shaft, said casing having a circular opening substantially larger than said shaft and coaxial therewith; a combined bearing, illumination transmitting, and switchoperating member formed as a single integral element of light-transmitting material, said member comprising means for engagement with said shaft for driving the same. a circular peripheral portion complementing said casing opening and rotatably mounted within the same to form a bearing for said shaft, and a projection on the outer surface thereof so configured as to provide a manually engageable means for rotating the member and simultaneously giving a tactile indication of direction to inform the operator of the switch position; said opaque casing having on the outer surface thereof projections indicating switch setting positions and cooperating with the rib on said member whereby the switch setting can be determined by the sense of touch; and a source of illumination mounted within the casing to direct light against the surfaces of said member which are within the casing.

4. An electric heating-pad switch for connection in the supply line of the pad to control the energization of the latter, comprising a casing having an opening therein and having a plurality of touch-perceptible surface formations each designed to give a sensible indication of the heat produced in the pad for a corresponding setting of the switch parts; switching means in the casing; a manually operable knob rotatably carried by the casing for actuating the said switching means, said knob comprising a disk of lighttransmitting material spanning the opening in the casing, and comprising a diametric rib rigid with and projecting outwardly from the disk to be gripped by the fingers of a user for rotating 6 the knob and coordinating the position of the same with said casing surface formations; and illumination means within the casing for directing light against the underside of the disk so that the latter becomes luminous and outlines the said rib, thereby to guide a user in grasping the rib in the dark.

JOSEPH YOUHO-USE'.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,566,069 Buchholz et al Dec. 15, 1925 1,815,635 Peterson July 21, 1931 1,921,765 Meuer Aug. 8, 1933 2,179,199 Reed Nov. 7, 1939 2,220,590 Vogt Nov. 15, 1940 2,305,132 Bradford Dec. 15, 1942 2,334,479 Creager Nov. 16, 1943 2,339,904 Almquist Jan. 25, 1944 2,341,924 Kruck Feb. 15, 1944 2,343,008 Grossman et al Feb. 29, 1944 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 212,923 Switzerland Apr. 1, 1941 671,668 Germany Feb. 11, 1939 760,033 France Dec. 6, 1933 

